This tenth round of the Cyclo-cross World Cup took place in Spain, in Benidorm, on a circuit known for being particularly fast, especially in dry weather. Two weeks before the World Championships in Liévin, the races held no major surprises, with victories from Thibau Nys and Van Empel in the Elite categories, Tibor Del Grosso and Marie Schreiber in the U23 categories, and Mattia Agostinacchio and Lise Revol in the Junior categories.
Spectators in T-shirts and riders equipped with water bottles. Bordered by the Mediterranean, Benidorm is far from the postcard-perfect image or typical setting of cyclo-cross.
The circuit itself stands out as a rarity on the Cyclo-cross World Cup calendar. Its technical aspects include potentially slippery grassy sections, a series of tight, sometimes off-camber turns, and a short sandpit (with a well-compacted path on the left).
Still, it’s hard to imagine a course more fast-paced overall than this one, where the main challenge lies in the speed at which obstacles are tackled. In fact, some of the most significant attacks or comebacks take place on a long, paved uphill false flat.
That being said, this circuit, which is strikingly “more physical than technical,” didn’t shake up the rankings and delivered predictable outcomes.
Thibau Nys’s victory in the Elite category was no surprise, as he overcame the agile Eli Iserbyt and the determined Lars Van der Haar. This result came despite expectations that Wout Van Aert would also be a major contender. Indeed, the Visma-Lease-a-Bike rider unleashed a powerful attack in the penultimate lap but was unable to clinch the win.
In the women’s race, Fem Van Empel’s victory was even less of a surprise. She delivered a strong battle against the relentless Lucinda Brand and, less than 15 days before Liévin, solidified her status as the favorite to defend her title.
The French riders Amandine Fouquenet and Hélène Clauzel put in very respectable performances, finishing in 11th and 12th place, respectively. As for Célia Géry, who placed 14th overall and 4th in the U23 category (dominated by Marie Schreiber and Zoe Backstedt), she held her own against the stars until midway through the race, aiming to “stay with the best for as long as possible to prepare for Liévin.”
In the U23 men’s category, Dutch rider Tibor Del Grosso (the rising star of Dutch cyclo-cross, often touted as the successor to Mathieu Van der Poel) once again dominated, taking victory ahead of Belgian Jente Michels and Frenchman Aubin Sparfel. On the French side, it’s worth noting the absence of Léo Bisiaux, who wisely opted to sit this one out after experiencing digestive issues a few days earlier.
Week after week, the hierarchy appears to be solidifying in the junior ranks. The boys’ race was won by Italian Mattia Agostinacchio. Representing the French team, Soren Bruyère-Joumard claimed second place but retained the overall World Cup lead, tied in points with the Italian.
It’s also worth noting the bad luck that continues to plague Théophile Vassal, who once again suffered a crash while racing among the frontrunners.
Still in the junior category, and just two weeks before the World Championships in Liévin, the French women’s team is shining brightly, led by Lise Revol, who claimed her second World Cup victory in Benidorm. However, the French champion believes she can “do even better.”
